Copter grabbing: Sharma convicted, fined Rs 17.15L, walks free

Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Jain freed 68-year-old Sharma, who has been behind bars for 13 years for various offences, by giving him the "benefit of section 428 CrPC".

"The convict Romesh Sharma has already spent 13 years in judicial custody during his trial and the maximum punishment imposed on him for the offences is 10 years, so giving benefit of section 428 CrPC he is released on period of jail sentence already undergone by him," the court said.

The court, which has convicted and awarded seven years imprisonment to 66-year-old Harish Mishra, for cheating and criminal conspiracy, has also given him the benefit of section 428 CrPC as he has spent over 10 years in jail.

The court sent Avtar Singh Ahluwalia, M D Bhojwani, Naveen Budhiraja, Manoj, Avdesh and Indermani to jail for three years besides imposing on them fine of Rs 10,000 each, for offences of dacoity and hatching criminal conspiracy for it.

The other convict Laxman Singh, convicted for kidnapping and criminal intimidation, has been awarded three years rigorous imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 15,000.

As Laxman Singh has already spent over two years in jail, the court allowed him to file an appeal before Delhi High Court saying his sentence is suspended till September 15.

Meanwhile, a fine of Rs 17.15 lakh was imposed on Sharma and Rs one lakh was imposed upon Mishra, out of which, Rs 15 lakh was directed to be given to the complainant Suresh Rao as compensation.

The court has also directed the concerned department to hand over the helicopter to Rao.